IILAJU is a farming village tucked deep inside the very agrarian Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State. Forty nine ears ago, the first Premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, intervened in the economic life of farmers in that locality with the establishment of what later became very famous as Ilaju Gaari Processing Factory. Built in 1972 to give advantage to cassava farmers and add value to their sweat by processing their produce into garri, the facility took off on a sound footing in 1973.
But obsolete equipment, non-availability of critical raw materials, specifically cassava, and lack of funds halted its operations in 1988. Efforts to revive the factory by its operators, the Ido (Ibadan) Cooperative Farming and Produce Marketing Society, through appeals to successive administrations in Oyo State yielded no positive result.
The leadership of the cooperative society was, however, not deterred as they approached the Awolowo family, specifically the late Reverend (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran and the Executive Director, Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, on the need to resuscitate the facility, bearing in mind the pivotal role their father, Chief Awolowo, played in the establishment of the factory. Through this channel, they drew the attention of the Oyo State governor, Mr Seyi Makinde to the project and its historical and economic significance. The governor broke the jinx by eventually awarding the contract for the refurbishment of the factory. He inaugurated it for the use of the farmers on Wednesday.
The joy of the residents of Ilaju and members of Ido (Ibadan) Cooperative Farming and Produce Marketing Society knew no bound as they thronged the premises of the factory to witness its rebirth. A highlight of the event was the honouring of Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu as the matron of Ido (Ibadan) Cooperative Farmers and Produce Marketing Society for her significant role in the rebirth of the factory.
At the inauguration of the factory, Governor Makinde said: “We are here today to commission the Ilaju Garri Processing Factory. When we came to inspect it, they told me it could process one trailer-load of cassava on a daily basis and the only thing that came to my mind was the employment we can generate by putting it back on track.
“We know that it was the sage, Pa Obafemi Awolowo, that initiated the establishment and operation of this factory. He was the real architect of Western Nigeria, who put us in a more advantaged position over other regions that time, and we are toeing the same path in Oyo State. “So, when members of this cooperative society came to meet me, I told them we would put the factory back on track and, to the glory of God, it has happened. I told the local engineer handling the project that if he could successfully fix the factory and make it work effectively, the work he would do next will be the brick factory at Erunmu. So, he has got another job for himself automatically as a result of what he has done.” Makinde also gave the society a working capital of N7.5million.
The governor explained that as part of his administration’s commitment to fixing infrastructure that target the conomic expansion drive of the state, the government had included Eruwa Road in the RAAMP projects. “I want to inform everyone here today that the road from Eruwa to this point has been captured in our RAAMP programme. We will fix it. I also want to tell the Kabiyesi and Baales that the contractor fixing the road from Apete to Awotan to Akufo will, by the time he gets to Akufo, turn his equipment to the right and fix the road linking Moniya. And if he turns to the left side, he will fix the Akufo road to link the Eruwa road here.
“So, I want to assure you that the government of Oyo State will continue to resuscitate all moribund projects to create value for our people. The money you requested for, which will enhance your productivity in this factory, will be given to you because we don’t want the work to stop. We will give you N7.5 million to commence the work. We will give you the cheque here now,” he said.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, Mr Adeniyi Adebisi, appreciated Governor Makinde’s support and policy thrust which, according to him, is aimed at rejuvenating the economy of the state, using agriculture as a tool. He added that Makinde’s style of administration in the state had transformed the process of transacting government businesses and activities from analogue to digital, as it operates in the developed world today.
“So, on behalf of the entire management team of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investments and Cooperatives, I thank Your Excellency for the tremendous support given to us from time to time in all the programmes and activities of the Ministry. “You are, indeed, laying a solid foundation that will stand the test of time for the state and this will occupy an enviable place in the annals of Oyo State,” Adebisi said. In his remark, the chairman of Ido (Ibadan) Cooperative Farming and Produce Marketing Society, Mr Lasun Dairo, said: “The society, at its registration in 1972, consisted of 10 members, but the membership rose to 137, out of which 132 were practising farmers. “The underlying basic philosophy of this project from the beginning is by no means new. It is that the standard of life of the average Nigerian farmer can only be raised well above the standard increase in his productivity.
“This can only be achieved by, among other things, enlarging the scale of farm holding, an improved method of production and establishment of a factory for agricultural products. The objective of the garri processing factory as defined by Chief Awolowo is to make farmers self-respecting and prosperous proprietors of their own farm products and produce. “The factory commenced operation in 1973 and was run by the society between 1973 and 1988. The factory could crush two truckloads of cassava in a day, just as it provided job for over 300 people. It has the capacity to work all days.
The problem leading to the cessation of operation was largely the unavailability of raw materials. All efforts to resuscitate the factory were hampered by a lack of finance. “The efforts of the society to invite successive administrations in Oyo state to wade in to assist were rebuffed. This garri processing factory has suffered 37 years of neglect before the intervention of our own amiable governor, Seyi Makinde.
“The commissioning of this project today is upon his kind administration. He is indeed a friend of the masses and friend of the farmers. He made a promise and kept it. This society owes him a lot of gratitude. He is the Awolowo of our time. He is today reviving the vision of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
He provided every support required of him for the resuscitation of this factory. “The society needs large hectares of land for the cultivation of cassava which is the raw material required in this factory. It can only work in full capacity if there are enough raw materials. We also need bulldozer D7/D8, tractors, ploughing machine, harrow and ridge. This equipment is required to clear the bush and cultivate the farmlands. “We also need vehicles to convey the cassava raw material from farmland to the factory and to convey finished products from the factory to the market.”
The Onido of Ido, Oba Muritala Gbolagade, commended Governor Makinde for resuscitating the factory, just as he implored the people of the state to support his administration in bringing further development to the state. The chairman of Ido Local Government Area, Mr Sheriff Adeojo, said the governor’s decision to revamp the factory would go a long way in reducing unemployment and enhancing food security.
Traditional rulers, political leaders and other stakeholders in the local government attended the event. Also, there was Mr Olumide Oyediran who represented her late mother, Rev. Mrs Omotola Oyediran. Also, Ambassador Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu was represented at the event by the Editor, Saturday Tribune, Dr Lasisi Olagunju; Associate Editor, Nigerian Tribune, Mr Suleiman Olanrewaju; Chief Internal Auditor of ANN Plc, Mr Peculiar Adegbite and Head, Human Resources, Mrs Bukola Ezeamaka.
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